▲ Photo courtesy Teddy Bear Museum

This museum at Jungmun Tourist Complex, which opened in April 2001, is the first and largest teddy bear museum in Korea. It is a great place for adults to reminisce about childhood memories, or for children to live them out in the present.

The pyramidal glass structure is easily spotted in the middle of the tourist complex and it houses designer teddies, an art gallery, a history room, a special exhibition room, a museum shop and a restaurant.

Visitors enter the museum on the top floor and work their way down through the various displays within the building. The museum devotes a lot of its room to telling the history of the teddy bear.

It also tells the history of humankind with scenes showing the storming of the beach at Normandy in WWII as well as famous historical figures such as Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi. The displays are labeled accurately in both English and Korean.

Among the prize exhibits is a 230 million won Louis Vuitton teddy bear as well as Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear and the classic Steiff bears with their trademark button ears.

▲ Photo courtesy Teddy Bear Museum

For visitors wanting more of a Korean flavour there is a traditional Korean wedding scene with hanbok-wearing teddies, and Jeju culture is also on display with haenyeo (women divers) shown along the sea shore.

If you like your teddy bears with a little more going on upstairs there is even a teddy incarnation of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, in the instantly recognizable iconic pose. Various other art masterpieces are recreated in full teddy glory.

The gift shop is heaven for any teddy bear lover with its high quality collectibles, and the garden outside provides ample photo opportunities with a beautiful sea view. If your legs need a rest, there is a museum restaurant for coffee, snacks or something more substantial.

Teddy Bear Museum
31, Jungmungwangwang-ro 110 beon-gil, Seogwipo-si
064-738-7600 / teddybearmuseum.co.kr
Adults 8,000 won / Students 7,000 won

Hours
Low-season: 9am- 8pm (Last admission 7pm)
Summer: 9am-10pm (Last admission 9pm)

Getting there
Jeju International Airport -> #600 Airport Limousine Bus -> Jungmun Tourist Complex

Things to do nearby

▲ Jungmun Saekdal Beach. Photo courtesy JTO

Jungmun Saekdal Beach
Sallongnam-ro, Seogwipo-si / 064-760-4852
Beach season: July and August (later opening, events and facilities)
Jungmun Saekdal Beach is a soft sandy haven and accordingly gets very crowded in summer. The seas here are choppy, great for marine sports in summer, and very vigilant lifeguards. Stick to designated swimming areas.

▲ Cheonjeyeon Falls. Photo courtesy Norton lp

Cheonjeyeon Falls
132, Cheonjeyeon-ro, Seogwipo-si / 064-760-6331
8am to sunset / adults 2,500 won, youths and children 1,370 won

Cheonjeyeon Falls are in a bowl-like natural amphitheatre at the end of a scenic valley that is coolly shaded from the summer sun. A perfect photo spot!.

▲ Alive Museum. Photo courtesy The Jeju Weekly

Alive Museum
42 Jungmungwangwang-ro, Seogwipo-si,
064-787-8744 / alivemuseum.com/jungmun
9am-11pm / adults 9.000 won, teenagers 8.000 won, children 7.000won
Optical illusion-packed Alive Museum resembles a Roman temple and it is full of photo opportunities as you put yourself in various famous works of digital art, sculptures, installations and much more..

Jungmun Land Premium Buffet

62 Soboridang-ro 164-beongil, Seogwipo-si / 064-738-9966
Kids love a buffet and here they can try from a variety of local meats and seafood and limitless desserts.

Top tip
Jungmun’s hotels have some of the best coffee shops on the island and you don’t need to be a guest to use them. Just wander in and take a seat!.